Step-by-step instructions to make an aged paint monogram. This technique would work for most distressed or antiqued wood projects.
I think this aged paint monogram will be the last project for my mantel monogram gallery. I promise I won’t stop making monogram decor, I’ll just have to find some new spaces for them! I’ve had this aged paint technique saved from the Brassy Apple for several months and finally got a chance to try it out.
While there are several steps, it’s a pretty simple process to get this distressed look.
Supplies:
- Wooden letter (any size)
- Acrylic craft paint – dark brown, mustard yellow, and then a top color – I used red.
- Foam brush
- Pure bar soap (no fragrance, dyes, etc)
- Sandpaper
First paint your letter the brown base color. Since I was going to be painting with additional coats of other colors and sanding between, I only did one one coat of each color and didn’t worry about perfect coverage. After the first coat dries, rub the parts of your letter that you want to be most distressed looking. There’s not science to this. I did a few middle spots and some edges.
Next paint a yellow coat on top of the brown coat and soap layer. If you want you can leave a few spots unpainted or less painted or you can choose to just sand it a little more later. Then, take your sand paper and sand the places where you rubbed your soap. You should be able to see them pretty well, but if not, just go over lightly with your sandpaper. The paint will rub off easily in the spots you applied soap.
After you have done your first round of sanding, go over some of the spots you originally soaped along with a few new ones if you wish. Then do your final coat of paint with your third color.
Finally, sand through the soap spots and on some of the edges. Brush off any additional soap flecks. I painted mine both front and back, so that I could decide which side I liked better.
This aged paint technique for making something look distressed or antiqued would work for most wood projects. You could also use different base colors other than the brown and yellow, but I liked the look of this as I felt like it almost gave it the look of rusted metal.
If you ever try this technique, leave a link in the comments to show it off. I’d love to see other aged paint projects.
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